Jockey April Boag, right, on Brought to Justice, explodes out of the gate with the other horses ond jockeys to kick off opening day of the Los Alamitos Summer Thoroughbred Festival at the Los Alamitos Race Course on Thursday, July 3, 2014. The daytime thoroughbred races run Thursdays through Sundays until July 13. (Scott Varley / Staff Photographer)

During a phone call to a friend, Justin Stanley of Orange holds up his cell phone so track trumpeter Jay Cohen can play a birthday on opening day of the Los Alamitos Summer Thoroughbred Festival at the Los Alamitos Race Course on Thursday, July 3, 2014. The daytime thoroughbred races run Thursdays through Sundays until July 13. (Scott Varley / Staff Photographer)

LOS ALAMITOS >> The thoroughbreds were half a mile away from the finish line when they hit the first turn of the fourth race Thursday on opening day of the Los Alamitos Summer Thoroughbred Festival.

“A rider’s going to have to think,” General Manager Brad McKinzie, surrounded by sports reporters in the press box, said of the longer track layout.

The horses came around the second turn as Ed Burgart, the voice of the track, called the action in “the longest stretch in the United States.”

Though the meet is short, eight days over two extended weekends, it comes following $5 million of improvements. Right off, the renovation is noticeable as the track has been lengthened from five-eighths of a mile to a full mile. It’s the first thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos since the final Orange County Fair season in August 1991.

“We came here all the way from the San Fernando Valley,” said Arnold Frias of Reseda, standing trackside with his wife, Ruby, both in jeans, sunglasses and black short-sleeved shirts “We wanted to be here for opening day,” he said. “We’ve been here for the quarter horses and wanted to see thoroughbreds.”

There’s one problem, Frias said. The tote board hasn’t been updated to show the factions the horses have run during the race.

“I guess they’ll have to get another board or something,” he said.

The track was founded by Frank Vessels Sr., who came to California from Kentucky. After 20 years, he started a construction company that built oil drilling platforms. He built the track on a portion of his 435-acre ranch in Orange County as a venue for quarter horses. The track’s first pari-mutuel meeting was in 1951.

It is now the home training facility to California Chrome, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. The track gave away white California Chrome T-shirts as part of an opening-day promotion.

“I won money on (California Chrome) at the Santa Anita Derby, and the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness,” said Cheryl Reeder, of Rosemead, who was wearing a purple California Chrome T-shirt.

“I took off a half day of work,” she said. “I’m taking my dog to the vet,” she laughed, giving a wink.

Reeder said she usually goes to Santa Anita.

“But they’re doing a great job here,” she said.

The track has new high-definition televisions for fans to view the racing and 200 new stalls are going to be added in the barn area.

“Today is the culmination of eight years of planning,” McKenzie told the reporters in the press box. “We wanted to make a statement to the people of California and all across the country that this is a first-class meet.”

Turnout for the first day was around 5,500, according to Bob Hurd, operations manager.

“It’s a good crowd,” he said. “We weren’t sure what we were going to get, 5,000 or 15,000. We’re happy with it. This weekend will give us a better idea.

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Wilfredo Rodriguez of Inglewood was standing trackside in a Hollywood Park shirt. He said he works for a trainer who is moving his horses from the now-closed Inglewood track to Los Alamitos.

“I think it’s a pretty good track,” said Rodriguez. “This is going to be the future.”